Thiruvannamalai - Arunachaleswarar

Our next trip was to Thiruvannamalai. It is situated about 185kms from Chennai. It is one of the important pilgrimage place in southern TamilNadu, as it is one among the five elements(Pancha bootha sthalam). It is synonym to Deepam(fire). Arunachaleswarar temple is considered as the biggest temple dedicated to Lord Siva. Here Lord Siva is in the name of Annamalaiyar as the temple is located at the foot of Annamalai hill. Many poets have sung poems on Lord Siva. Also this place is very much associated with great saints and sithars.

Navagopuram view from the top

With so many things on mind we entered the temple. We were stunned by the awesome beauty of Annamalai hill and the place it is located. I do not have words to describe that. More than everything we really got a very good feeling once we entered. This is the place where you can get the spiritual feeling. That moment made us to understand the reason why great saints and sithars lived around this hill. Even now it is believed that sidhars are still around there.

Arunachaleswarar temple -Main entrance

 

Inside the temple - Main entrance

Getting into the 1st entrance

Nanthi

outside annamalaiyar entrance

Annamalaiyar kovil Praharam

Praharam - The place we sat and meditate

 Karthigai deepam is very famous here, its been celebrated every year in the tamil month Karthigai (November/December) . On that evening, a huge lamp is lit in a very large pot with tons of ghee at the top of the hill. Tens of thousands of people comes to his place to see this karthigai deepam. Another important event here is the full moon day. Every full moon night thousands & thousands of people comes here and worship Lord Siva by walking around the Annamalai hill bare foot. It is so called Girivalam, meaning walking around the hill. It covers a distance for about 14kms.

The next important thing is Ramana Maharishi who lived in Thiruvannamalai, around this hill for fifty three years until his death in 1950. His ashram is also located at the foot of theAnnamalai hill.